Role of copper and aluminum on the corrosion behavior of austenitic Fe–Mn–C TWIP steels in aqueous solutions and the related hydrogen absorption

Corrosion tests, isotopic tracing and surface analyses were used to study the corrosion behavior and the related hydrogen absorption of a Fe–18Mn–0.6C alloy in aqueous solutions. The influence of alloying elements was investigated. Copper addition leads to the formation of an oxide layer enriched in metallic copper, which favors H recombination and decreases H absorption in the alloy. Aluminum addition decreases the average corrosion rate by the formation of an oxide layer enriched in aluminum, thus decreasing the hydrogen absorption during the corrosion process. In this Al-enriched alloy, the presence of phosphorus increases the corrosion kinetics and promotes hydrogen absorption.